HMV opens dedicated London gaming centre
Trudging the high street shopping can be a gruelling task, especially if you can’t decide which game you want to buy. If only there was somewher
Trudging the high street shopping can be a gruelling task, especially if you can’t decide which game you want to buy. If only there was somewhere you could sit down and try out some new titles, without having to fork out the £40 and take it home first. How about HMV Trocadero centre in Piccadilly Circus?
The home movie, music and video game retailer has cleared out 2,300ft on its bottom floor and built a gaming centre with gaming specialist Gamerbase.
Some 80 quad core PCs and dual core notebooks PCs have been lined up to preview upcoming titles, as well as pimp any wares HMV or Gamerbase want to promote. The area will also be used for tournaments – so it’s going to be privy to some stunning emotional outbursts by Joe Public and co.
It’s also said to hold a bunch of Xbox 360s, for those too upset by PC gaming to accept the keyboard/mouse combo.
HMV’s London gaming megaplex is a pay-to-play zone of online and LAN games, costing between £2.50 and £4 per hour, depending on the system and game. But you will need to sign up for a membership to join in. The cost: your thumbs, you actually sign them away. Only kidding! It’s free.
Gamerbase marketing director Sujoy Roy – described by someone at HMV as the UK’s most experienced professional gamer – said, while slightly distracted by Guitar Hero 3, “This is the first time that a PC gaming centre has been built in conjunction with a major high street retailer”.
“We look forward to providing a true consumer experience that will hopefully find the UK’s next top gamers to represent our country at Worldwide competitive events.”
The London gaming zone comes shortly after Gamerbase and HMV opened an Xbox 360 zone in Edinburgh, and ‘next generation’ gaming-centric stores in Dudley and Tunbridge Wells.
So if you’re a PC gaming novice, get down to HMV Trocadero centre in Piccadilly Circus, see what you’re missing.
Essentials
HMV Gamerbase London gaming centre
Price: From £2.50
On sale: Open Now
Contact: HMV
Dan Grabham
Editor-in-Chief 
